Natasha poured out words without taking a breath, her chest heaving as if expressing indignation. Walter shook his head slightly.

“Calm down. I didn’t mean to belittle the lady’s existence. I just want to know the truth.”

“Does the truth even matter in the first place? Aren’t you just seeing what you want to see?”

“I’m being sincere.”

“Then please don’t distort even the truth. Unless you feel better stabbing my already wounded heart so cruelly once more.”

“It is you, my lady, who is trying to misinterpret an innocent person over something absurd.”

Walter stood firm. Even in front of a woman so messed up that one would have to take her side unconditionally without knowing the circumstances.

To him, who rarely bent his will, Natasha recounted the details of the incident in more detail.

“Yes, Sir Alteil didn’t directly harm me. But he did threaten me. Startled, I lost my footing and tumbled down the stairs. There are servants who saw Sir Alteil shouting at me that day.”

“That-”

“Should the result be nullified just because there was no intention? Even though I’ve already ended up in this state?”

Natasha spread her arms as if pointing to herself. Meanwhile, her right arm wrapped in bandages didn’t even extend fully. Tears that had barely stopped earlier started flowing again, wetting her pale cheeks.

Eugene stepped in to stop Walter from continuing the argument.

“That’s enough. This is clearly…”

‘Should the result be nullified just because there was no intention?’

Natasha’s words from earlier flashed through his mind.

It sounded exactly like an accusation hurled at him, making Eugene’s throat tighten once. Even in that brief moment of closing and opening his eyes, the lingering image of Helena burned hot.

Did you suffer a lot because of me too?

Were you hurt a lot?

Did you cry a lot, a lot…?

‘I need to find you, even if it’s just to hear the answer.’

As Eugene was organizing his thoughts and about to conclude the incident as Gordon’s fault,

“Hic, sob, Your Grace…!”

Natasha jumped into Eugene’s arms like a rabbit hiding in its burrow. Her small frame fit snugly against his solid chest, like a perfectly matching puzzle piece.

At the same time, a scent he hadn’t smelled in a long time intensified. Sweet yet sharp, Natasha’s unique body odor. It always made him feel a strange sense of comfort and an indescribable attraction.

Eugene unconsciously raised his arms. And as if he had been waiting for this, he embraced Natasha. As he gently stroked her trembling body, her sobbing gradually subsided.

How long had they been like that? The sticky embrace dissipated with the earthy smell carried by the wind. Eugene suddenly pushed Natasha away as if waking from a dream.

“Uh.”

Natasha let out a small groan at the sudden distance. Eugene briefly held his forehead, then spoke without being able to look at her.

“Just… just go back to Evergail and wait. I’ll come as soon as I finish my work. I’ll exclude Gordon from any duties related to the east mansion so you won’t have to encounter him again.”

Natasha smiled brightly as if she had never been upset, at the treatment Gordon received. All the moisture on her face had been absorbed into Eugene’s embrace.

“Thank you for always looking out for me, Your Grace. In that forest, at the villa, and now too. If it weren’t for you, I would have died many times over already.”

She bowed politely to Walter and Eugene and pulled her hood back up over her head.

“I hope… I hope the madam is safe too. I’ll pray for Your Grace and the madam every night.”

After finishing her greetings, Natasha turned her back and walked away. Eugene stood watching her retreating figure until it became a small dot, as if that was what he was supposed to do.

His head ached from the jumble of emotions and thoughts flooding in.

The first night spent in Partren wasn’t bad.

Except for sleeping a bit restlessly due to the unfamiliar environment. Still, there were no nightmares, so it was a fairly good start.

As if announcing that start, the sound of birds grew louder. Being close to the forest area made it feel even more vivid.

Since it was still early dawn, Helena lingered in bed for a while after opening her eyes before getting up.

‘…I need to buy thick curtains.’

She thought, slightly frowning at the fresh sunlight.

Gelda had said to ask a guild member going to the central district if she needed anything, but having let go of everything, she didn’t want to feel like she was ordering subordinates around, so she decided to go herself someday.

‘Anyway, here I’m nothing more or less than just another guild member.’

Helena finished her simple grooming while mentally organizing a shopping list.

As she left the lodging, the clear air filled with forest scent enveloped her. Her still slightly drowsy mind became sharply alert.

The room, the trees, the open space. Though it was a small space compared to the grand extremes of Evergail Manor, it was much easier to breathe here.

“Good morning.”

That man approaching as if he had been waiting for her to come out was… a bit disconcerting.

‘Come to think of it, I’m using a separate room now.’

Suddenly, the emptiness she had felt from before falling asleep last night until just after opening her eyes this morning came to mind.

Realizing the reason for it now, Helena slightly furrowed her brow.

Thinking it was because of the sunlight, Ian made a visor with his hand and held it over her head as he spoke.

“Did you sleep well? I felt a bit lonely without you always by my side.”

“…More words to misunderstand.”

“It’s just us two anyway.”

At his answer about feeling lonely, Helena felt her chest sink heavily. What kind of sensation was it?

‘Relief… from knowing he felt similar emotions to mine?’

Instead of replying further, Helena carefully pushed away Ian’s hand that was shading her.

Then she faced him properly. He looked more energetic than yesterday, perhaps thanks to resting from the journey.

Without the dull robe he always wore, his toned body line was fully revealed.

It was just a white shirt and ready-made pants. But perhaps because of his originally sturdy physique, the silhouette stood out even more.

Helena turned her eyes away from his thick thighs and started walking.

“Surely you didn’t wait until I came out?”

Ian caught up to her in one stride with his long legs, without hurrying.

“Wasn’t it too contrived a meeting for that? Did it feel like a coincidence to you?”

His voice, tinged with a faint smile, resonated as clearly as the morning air.

However, Helena only let out a barely audible sigh. This made it clear that he wouldn’t stay away from her side just because they came to the guild.

She asked, still fixing her gaze straight ahead.

“Why did you wait?”

“In case you might skip breakfast.”

“I came out to eat.”

“Then let’s go quickly. It’s quite a distance from here to the dining hall.”

“I’m not Sakin.”

“Actually, I just wanted to go together.”

Even though I know.

Ian added as if talking to himself. Helena continued walking, pretending not to hear.

You’re originally that kind of person, it’s not because I have any special meaning to you, but because you’re originally a kind person. Repeating this to herself, she walked to the dining hall without looking at Ian.

So when he naturally sat down next to her, she was fortunately able to maintain her usual calm demeanor.

‘…A savory smell.’

Thankfully, the aroma of freshly baked bread helped divert her consciousness. Helena quietly observed the interior of the dining hall.

The kitchen located in the corner had an open structure, and long log tables were placed at regular intervals in the spacious hall.

Thanks to the color of the wood grain and the light pouring through the translucent windows, the overall atmosphere was warm.

For breakfast, there was an apple jam sandwich with fresh ham and cheese, warm milk with honey, a salad of chopped tomatoes tossed with avocado and drizzled with olive oil, and hot onion soup.

As plates began to fill the table one by one, Lily came running over to greet them.

“Good morning, pretty sister!”

Then she busily went back and forth between the long tables, clutching a handful of forks and knives.

Only after distributing everything in her hands to the guild members did Lily return and take a seat to Helena’s right. She wanted to sit on the left side because she was left-handed, but it was already occupied.

Helena paused as she was about to hand over the fork and knife she had just received from Lily to Ian.

She hadn’t noticed earlier because she was deliberately ignoring him, but his fingers were wrapped haphazardly with adhesive bandages.

It was too clumsy a job for someone who always appeared flawless to have done it himself.

“Are you hurt?”

At Helena’s question, Ian curled his fingers to hide the bandages.

“It’s nothing. This little miss insisted even though I said I was fine.”

Ian answered, nodding towards Lily. At that, Lily banged her small fist on the table as if she had been subjected to a very unfair instigation.

“That’s because you’re so clumsy at sewing… mmph!”

Lily’s words were cut off as the sandwich that had been sitting quietly on the plate suddenly blocked her mouth.

Helena shifted her gaze to the one who had shoved the sandwich into Lily’s mouth.

The sandwich that she needed to hold with both hands looked like a bite-sized piece in his hand.

Even the space where two people could sit comfortably seemed ridiculously small when he occupied it.

“I’ll take care of this little one, so don’t mind us and finish your meal.”

The man with an eyepatch over his right eye gestured expansively while taking Lily’s cotton-like punches.

He was the man Gelda had briefly pointed out while passing by the blacksmith’s shop earlier.

Plum, the one and only blacksmith of Guild Partren.

He appeared to be in his early forties, but it was hard to tell exactly because of his beard.

Helena quietly observed him, trying not to be rude.

Chestnut brown hair sticking out like a bird’s nest, short stubble running lightly along his jaw up to his ears, and a jovial expression.

He couldn’t be described as neat even as a polite lie, but considering his large build and easygoing movements, it all seemed to fit together overall.

What caught her eye a bit was that he was wearing black leather gloves even while eating, perhaps due to his profession.

“Well, does the food suit your taste, miss?”

Had he felt her gaze, or was he just curious? Plum asked, lightly lifting Lily onto his lap.

Helena could only nod slightly, unable to swallow the piece of avocado still in her mouth.

He didn’t mind and laughed heartily, showing all of his teeth that were clearly strong.

“Haha! I thought so. Gelda had Angry go out at dawn to buy fresh ingredients when she heard a new guest had arrived.”

“…?”

Helena looked at Plum with an expression that seemed to say, ‘Surely not?’ He glanced around once, then leaned slightly towards her and whispered.

“Looks like she took a liking to you, miss. Trying to keep you here longer, even if just through your stomach.”

“What are you whispering about first thing in the morning? How annoying.”